Now that I’m 34 weeks and getting closer and closer to “baby day,” I’ve started estimating what I think my total weight gain will be with the pregnancy. And, I’ll be honest, I haven’t been particularly thrilled with the number I’ve been coming up with!
See the belly? It’s getting quite large! And I had to stand reeeeaaaally funny in order to be able to see my feet!
At my 34-week appointment yesterday when the nurse had me stand on the scale, I did what I do at every single appointment: frantically tried to remember what my weight was at the last appointment so I could calculate what I’d gained.
As I stepped down, I did the math and came up with a 7 pound weight gain. In two weeks. I won’t lie, I was absolutely mortified. When the nurse left the room, I started telling Mr. H how terrible I felt, and how I thought I had done really well over the past couple of weeks. I had been expecting a 2-4 pound weight gain, as I seem to gain around 3-4 pounds every 2 weeks. I promptly started crying.
I was too embarrassed to ask my midwife if my weight gain was out of control. Partly because I assumed if there was a problem, she would tell me. And partly because I didn’t want to hear the answer in case she told me that I was gaining weight far too rapidly. So I put on a cheery face, had a great appointment where we learned that Baby H is still positioned head down, and with a healthy, happy heartbeat. And, that I was measuring right on track with a 34 cm fundal height.
At the end of the appointment, she handed back my little card that tracks all of my pregnancy stats (weight gain, blood pressure, etc). After we said our thank you’s and goodbyes, Mr. H and I looked at the card. The weight I had been using as my weight from the last appointment was actually from a month ago! Instead of gaining 7 pounds in the past 2 weeks, I had gained 4 pounds. While still a little higher than I would have liked, needless to say I was a bit relieved.
This helped me gain a lot of perspective. I am probably going to go well over what I had “hoped” I would gain with the pregnancy. At 34 weeks, I have gained about 36 pounds. My target was to stay at 40 pounds or under. With 6 weeks left to go and my average gain being 2 pounds a week, I could come quite close to the 50 pound mark.
But I know that I just have to be ok with that. As long as I am eating healthy and keeping active, I am doing what I need to do. I am still feeling great these days: no heartburn, my wedding rings still fit the same as they did pre-pregnancy and I have a lot of energy. With the exception of really uncomfortable sleep, Baby H and I are doing quite well! The number on the scale is just going to be whatever it is.
Are you trying to “guess” what your total pregnancy weight gain will be? Or are you being relaxed and easy going about the number on the scale?
apricot / 498 posts
Don’t beat yourself up. My last 2 weeks I gained 10 pounds. Granted, it was honestly all water weight but as long as you’re doing some exercise and eating well you’re fine!
blogger / pomegranate / 3201 posts
You’re not alone, my friend!! I’m pretty sure I’m going to hit the 50 lb mark as well and a few weeks ago, I gained 6 lbs in two weeks! Last time, it was 4 lbs in 2 weeks. I hate getting weighed at the doctor and have so much anxiety over it that the nurse has to change her routine for me – she usually does weight first, then blood pressure, but now she has to do my blood pressure first, because it spikes after I see my weight each time!
Oh, and when I was at the end of my second trimester, I asked my doctor if I was gaining too much weight and he sort of said no, but then said he’d be happy if I gained 3 lbs in my third trimester! HA! I totally laughed in his face and he hasn’t said a word about my weight since then.
pomegranate / 3032 posts
I don’t mean to be ignorant but i’m very confused over the whole weight gain thing. when my mom and aunts had kids they each gained 40-60 lbs. (15-25 yrs ago) I know now that drs are only recommending 25-40lbs. My best friend is currently 36 wks and has only gained 6lbs she probably weighed 165 at 5’7″ before pregnancy. another friend only gained 12 lbs and wieghed under 100 at 5′. Is this normal? this seems like a really low amount of weight gain for a pregnancy. If you’re over a normal BMI to the Drs. try to keep you from gaining a lot.
apricot / 453 posts
Try not to feel bad about it. I am a big believer in trusting your body – it knows what it needs to do in order to deliver a healthy baby.
My doctor wanted me to gain at least 28lbs, based on my BMI and I only made it to 26lbs. They were constantly worried about my weight gain, which made me worry too. I ate a fairly healthy high caloric diet everyday to try to gain weight (boy do I miss those nightly milkshakes!) but I wouldn’t gain much weight. I delivered a healthy 7lb 2oz baby boy at 39 weeks. Anyway, my point is….try not to stress, your body is doing what it needs to do.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I gained 50 by my last appt at almost 40 weeks.
I’m sure my total weight gain was probably 52-54lbs since I went into labor 2 days past my due date.
I was super disappointed since it was double what I had wanted to gain, but eh. I had a healthy baby and the weight came off (almost) and I’m back in my prebaby clothes!
grape / 95 posts
I’m at 33 weeks and I’m already at 33 lbs! I worry too. For the most part, I try to eat healthy but I won’t lie – I am definitely indulging on sweets & carbs! I haven’t exercised much either. I feel so out of shape. I followed a pretty healthy food/exercise diet pre-preg… so it’s not easy to see all this weight gain. Look at it this way, the end is coming soon. You’ll be able to bounce back if you really want to. You have to believe it anyway. For now, enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and deal with the weight issue later. =)
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
Seriously don’t worry about it. I gained 30 lbs and had a 9 lb baby… it’s probably a lot of water retention too… so you will lose it faster than you think.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
i gained 45 with charlie and he was 8 lbs 6 oz. i lost it all within 5 months with no diet and exercise. since you’re much healthier than i am, i’m sure you will be in tip top shape even faster!
pomegranate / 3053 posts
I’d say if your midwife doesn’t have a problem then you’re fine.
I have the opposite worry… I’m 36 (almost 37 weeks) now and I’ve gained about 16 or so lbs. I’m a little worried but neither of my OBs (there’s three of them) has said anything; and I do keep asking the nurse who weighs me how much I’ve gained too. And at my 30 week ultrasound baby was in the 57% percentile in growth so I felt comfortable then. I thought I was gaining too little weight. I blame it on having to care for a toddler full-time.
Sounds like you won’t have any problems losing it b/c you work out and eat healthy. I don’t do either… so maybe it’s better that I gain less. LOL! I gained just under 30lbs with my first almost three years ago. Instantly lost 20 lbs after delivery and had a 7lb 4oz baby. Didn’t lose the additional 10 lbs and got preggers with #2. Figured that I’d just lose it when we’re done having kids.
Congrats, you’re almost there!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
You are not alone!!
I’m only 5’2 and pre-preg weighed 110 lbs….so I should really be closer to a 25/30 pound gain for my pregnancy. I have been “shooting” for 25 lbs this whole pregnancy as I want to be able to bounce back quickly to my normal fitness. However, between weeks 22-26, I gained 7 pounds. Granted I had been STARVING those weeks. I felt pretty bad about myself after that, knowing that if I continued to gain at that pace I would gain far more than 25-30 pounds in my pregnancy. Then I was hit with a stomach bug followed by a cold and stayed even for a few weeks (also probably not good).
At 29 weeks, I think I’m up 18 pounds total…but maybe more, since I haven’t been weighed myself in a week. In the end, I’ll probably gain 30 pounds or more. That’s a lot on a 5’2 frame. I’m trying my best all the time to not worry about it, but it’s really hard not to.
You are on the home stretch now – so exciting!
honeydew / 7968 posts
sorry, i’m in the opposite boat as you. i was afraid i wasn’t gaining enough. my doctor wanted me to gain 35 pounds and i finally made it at 34 to 35 weeks. i’m still worried that my twins aren’t getting enough to gain weight but so far, the doctors haven’t expressed any concern to me…..
guest
I think if you’re eating healthy and trying to be at least a little active, then there isn’t much to worry about. I gained 35 pounds, and gave birth to an 8 pounder. My friend gained 50+ and gave birth to a 6 pounder (how is that even fair, lol?)…
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
I gained 27 lbs with little jacks, but in the few days preceding delivery, I gained several more due to pih. I don’t count that weight since it was all fluid retention.
blogger / apricot / 366 posts
@mrs. tictactoe: I know, isn’t the weigh-in the worst?! I read in a book that some midwife offices keep the scale in the bathroom and let you weigh yourself. I think ALL OFFICES should do this
@chopsuey119: yay for being back in pre-baby clothes!! I can’t wait for that day!
@Mrs. Bee: Ha! I don’t know about being healthier, but I do know that Mr. H has high hopes of me training for a marathon or something after the baby, lol.
guest
I can totally relate! I am only 24 weeks but keep looking at the scale and thinking how much farther I have to go and more to gain! I’m not sure if you really have control over it! I agree – if you eat healthy (for the most part – you have to indulge a little bit!) and exercise then what else can you do? My prenatal yoga instructor is a doula as well and she is always saying that your body will gain what it needs
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I’m at 32 weeks and have gained about 32 lbs. I’m not worried about it honestly. I know I’m eating healthy and stuff that’s good for baby and her development. I allow myself guilty pleasures. The week after Xmas I gained 9lbs! I just laughed out loud.
So don’t worry about it!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
I was totally scandalized at how much I gained during each third-tri appointment. Totally normal. Try not to stress about it, because a lot of it *is* water.
persimmon / 1255 posts
I was trying to keep under 30 since that’s what my GYN recommended but I ended up gaining 40 lbs, the last 5 lbs in the last two weeks. I wasn’t too worried though because I ate really well all through the pregnancy. LO came out 8lbs, 13 oz (which was WAY bigger than we had expected) and I lost all the weight within 4 months without exercise…..unless carrying baby around counts as exercise.
guest
Yay! I’m 27 weeks and have gained 25 pounds. My face looks chubby and my belly is el massivo. I blame in on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines day, and controlling nausea through eating. I’m praying the next three months I can keep it under 45.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Has anyone read the Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy? Where she talks about getting weighed at each appt., and how if she gained not much that’s all she could talk about (“I only gained 3 lbs since my last appt”) versus when she gained *more* between appointments she would curiously never talk about it? I feel like that woman!